What’s Your Opinion?

Responses compiled and photographed by Bill O

“Well, as long as they have seen fit to correct what they did; if they paid their debt to society, why not hire them? The Police Department is an employer just like any other. So if they served their time, then hire them.”
Roxanne Nora, CanarsieQuestion: The Daily News reported that the New York City Police Department has knowingly hired recruits with arrest records, including assault, grand larceny and weapons possession, and without full background checks to bolster its ranks. How do you feel about allowing criminals to participate in enforcing laws for which they’ve been convicted?

“I think it shouldn’t matter what their background is, as long as they are trying to help. A criminal background shouldn’t interfere with their ability to enforce the law.”
Emmanuel D., Canarsie

“If they had misdemeanors on their record, then I could see them becoming police officers. But people with serious felonies, it doesn’t make any sense for them to become police officers, because an officer has to be trained and driven towards enforcing the law.”
Jose Flores, Canarsie“I think if a person has a bad record, then they shouldn’t hire that person because they committed those offenses against society. Then they are going to turn around and say they are protecting society. It’s not right, and the city and state shouldn’t hire those people.”
Thiendy Elizer, Canarsie